Loves Lost

[pappy]

I used to have an 83 pickup and was forced to sell, kick my self now ...

Many of us have owned more than one Toyota truck. Many times it's a love lost. Some (all) of us have had seller's remorse. Maybe not right away, but at some point we look back and say "damn it, I wish I still had that. It was a great little truck." So, folks, let's wallow in our own self-pity and share with some of the newer folks here our lost loves. Those trucks that we regret selling. Let's share so that maybe those folks who are just starting their Toyota love affair might not repeat our mistakes.

Me first.

The year was 1998. I sold my 1982, California rust free, pristine, short bed. I had owned it for 14 years. Sounded like a good idea at the time. It didn't have AC, or power steering, and it was a standard cab. I bought a new xcab Tacoma. I don't regret selling the Taco (bought the 85 xcab), but damn, that 82 was my first Toyota 4x4. I went everywhere in that truck. I met my wife while driving that truck (she had a IH Scout II … ya, love at first sight). We had some serious adventures in that little truck. But, we were desert people, and the lack of AC was getting to be a deal breaker. Of course, if I knew then what I know now.

Unfortunately, I don't have many pictures of my 1982, and they are all on film. The truck, and my bride, in Death Valley. Miss both of them.

The other truck I kick myself for selling was a 1985 xcab. I just should not have. But, my wife was sick, and I needed a car. Something she could get into and out of easily. So, crying, I sold it. I had to choose between the truck and the 4Runner. The 4Runner won, mostly for sentimental reasons. It was the first truck we bought together, and it was the truck we honeymooned in. So, the xcab went. I hated the decision to sell that truck. I have NO regrets still owning the 4Runner. As I have said … when I die they will put my ashes in the truck, and bury the truck.

Pics of the truck in it's favorite habitat, Baja.

This truck was super clean.

OK, your turn. [sniff]

 

[gnob]

Funny i just found a couple old pics of my 79. Parents bought in 88ish with a buick231/TH350. :barf:
My brother and i drove it as an extra car until 97 when i bought it and swapped in a 22RE. I Built and drove it for 12 years. Pics of its almost final iteration. I parted it because of rust and legroom to build my 89 3.4 swapped 4runner.

 

[D21FJ60]

Sorry if this is limited to only Toyota's, but what got me started with Japanese trucks was growing up in my fathers 1984 Nissan 720. We took it camping and to do weekend errands. When the HG blew and frame was questionable he bought his 1984 FJ60 in 10/1999.

So from then on I always wanted a toyota or nissan truck, I loved the simplicity and reliability of them.

Finally, after driving for 4 years in various honda and toyota sedans, I was behind the wheel of 1986.5 d21. 2wd, no a/c or power steering, total death trap. Loved it. That truck saw me through part of college, multiple road trips and everywhere in between. I put about 14k miles on it in 1 year, and that's with 9 months of that time away at college. However I found the lack of a/c, 2wd and people and dry cargo space frustrating so it went and was replaced with a 1998 pathfinder. Stripped down, 5 speed 4wd. So many memories in that truck, it is the one Iregret getting rid of the most. Traded it almost 5 years ago for a generic, boring "adult" 2007 CR-V.

So now, with my 4Runner the only thing that will see it gone is a wreck or rust. I still am trying to get my father to pass down his Cruiser because he is hinting at replacing it, I can't bear to think of it not being in the family.

 

[yotadude520]

I've owned a number of vehicles in my short time on the road. I tend to go through them quickly as I love buying them, fixing them and getting something new. I've slowed down in the past couple of years, and finally have two trucks (KLF's 87 X-Tra Cab & my extremely sentimental 85 F-250) that I'm not going to get rid of.

The one truck that I really regret selling would have to be my old 1980 Toyota Crawler. When I got the thing, it barely ran. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to fix it and bring it back from the dead. It was a project that pushed me a little bit and I learned to absolutely love that truck. I loved the character on it, the stories it could tell and the fact that I brought it back. It was very gratifying for me to have done so. Also considering how little I had into it really made no sense for me to sell it. I should've just kept it and fixed it up and rock crawled it till it couldn't no more. It was the perfect budget build crawler.

The thing was so damn dependable and I only took it out a couple of times. I would daily drive it some weeks when even when it was 100 degrees out just because I loved being behind the wheel of it. After I was done with it, it was stupidly reliable. Even the new owner didn't think it ran as well as it did. He started it up in the pouring rain in Texas on the trailer in 27 degrees (back in November) and she started on the first crank immediately.

This one still hurts to this day, and if I had known that I was going to sell the Cherokee and my YJ to get Ken's truck, I would've just kept this and still been wheeling it to this day.

Oh well, hindsight is always 20/20. I'll get it back someday...

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I have owned a lot of different cars. Probably pushing 100, but there are a few that still tug at my heartstrings...

I don't have a digital picture, but my first car was a 1967 Chevy II 2-door post. I should have never sold that and actually called the guy who bought it from me every six months for three years trying to buy it back.

In college I bought a pristine '85 4Runner SR5 that I lifted on 33's, 4.88's, lockers, built bumpers, and a winch. That is another truck I should have never sold. I hydrolocked the engine and bent a rod. Being a broke kid, I drove it for another 18 months (~15k miles) before the engine finally let go. I ended up selling it to a buddy because I couldn't afford to fix it.

I had a built 2004 VW R32 for a while that I shouldn't have sold.

I really miss my 40th Anniversary FZJ80. It is the rig that got me into this amazing community. I beat that poor thing like a rented mule and she just took it. Unfortunately, I just flat used it up.

But the truck I miss the most was my 1984 pickup. I got it from a buddy in trade and got rid of it thinking I needed a backseat so my daughter could wheel with me. Now she is 10 years old and hates being on the trails...

 

[ferg]

Well not a mini but my '66 FJ40. (Sorry no pix) Was set up decent, 350, late split trans and Tcase. Went everywhere I wanted it to go, Baja, Rubicon, SoCal deserts, Sierras, rocks, sand, etc. Foolishly sold it after repairing a broken rear pinion after a PVD run. I know where it is and who owns it, just can't afford to buy it back.

 

[Dumpolina]

After almost 20 years I was fortunate enough to get back my favorite little rig that I had to part with when life took a 180. I got to wheel it a few years and now handed it off to a friend who will update it with his nephew as a family project, so it feels like it’s still in the family.
Here it is in 2015 on the Blanca peak trail hauling a ton of gear.

It went to Blanca peak trail this week in the hands of yet another 17 year old. This rig has an absolute heart of gold

 

[KLF]

I miss all my mini trucks, the red '87 the most (obviously), but the car I'd love to have back is my '63 Pontiac Catalina 2 door. My grandpa bought that car brand new, it was his baby, eventually it got passed down to me when it wasn't worth trading in. I learned to drive in that car, learned a lot about maintenance and repair from my dad. We both loved that car, but it just got too rusty and unreliable, I think I sold it for $200 in 1980. Wish I had some photos.

 

[konradjk]

My 95 Tacoma LX 5 spd, manual hubs, AC. Bought it in California while living there from a librarian. Drove it for 10 years and sold it because my son could no longer fit in the back but was too small to sit up front. well guess what....he sits up front now and I miss my damn truck. At least I sold it to a guy who was planning to go camping in the Baja.

 

[Manhattan]

@Dumpolina - great story; KILLER pics!

Most of my "Loves Lost" are Jeeps. Fortunately, when I reminisce about them, it only lasts a second. The memories are interrupted by the pragmatic region of the brain saying "Dude, come on. You know damn well, that Jeep is a rusty hulk by now. And, you would've had to replace and rebuild most of the parts and... " So, it's easier moving on from old Jeeps

 

[Dumpolina]

So, it's easier moving on from old Jeeps

Agreed!

 

[cruiserdan]

RN47-015284. Bought in the fall of 1979. In 82 I put the then-new-for-82 grille and headlights on it. I had an Arkay turbo on it and it moved that camper quite well.

 

[Manhattan]

Well, I think we have a winner. Dan, from the slots to the grille guard to the camper... that is epic 80s perfection right there. Love it!

 

[cruiserdan]

The "guard" was actually a Warn winch mount, painted body-color. There is a Warn 6,000 under the cover.